Welcome to the First Year Blog!
Another week done and another week closer to the end of First Year – with only four weeks to go the end is now truly in sight! Next week starts with a trip to Winchester and the great news that ties and blazers won’t need to be worn for a whole week – this on top of the lovely weather should mean we have another great week coming up!
DORSET ADVENTURE
During the half term break, 29 First Year Hamptonians embarked on an exhilarating adventure to Dorset, filled with anticipation for a weekend of thrilling activities and unforgettable memories. The journey from school to Dorset would take approximately three hours, and our excitement grew with each passing minute. Finally, Friday arrived, and we set off on our journey to Dorset. The bus buzzed with anticipation as we settled into our seats, chatting, and laughing, eagerly looking forward to the adventures that awaited us. The scenic views outside the windows provided a picturesque backdrop, further fuelling our excitement.
After the hours flew by, we reached our destination and disembarked from the bus, stretching our legs after the long journey. The crisp air of Dorset greeted us, instantly rejuvenating our spirits. With hungry stomachs, we gathered at our accommodation’s dining area for a delicious dinner, lovingly prepared on-site, fuelling us for the night ahead. Following dinner, we embarked on a captivating night walk. The evening embraced us as we ventured through the countryside, guided by the sounds of nature and the gentle rustling of leaves beneath our feet. It was an enchanting experience, filled with whispers of excitement and occasional gasps at the views we encountered. As the night grew deeper, fatigue settled upon us, and we retreated to our cosy accommodations for a well-deserved rest. The comfortable beds provided a haven for our weary bodies, for the adventures that awaited us on Saturday morning.
Saturday dawned, and we awoke to the tantalising aroma of breakfast wafting through the air. Energised by a hearty meal prepared by the dedicated staff on-site, we gathered our belongings and prepared for the day’s activities. The anticipation was palpable as we geared up for the first adventure—climbing. Equipped with our protective gear, we made our way to the majestic cliffs that Dorset was renowned for. With a mixture of excitement and determination, we began our ascent, navigating the rugged terrain with skill and perseverance. The breath-taking views from the top were a rewarding sight, amplifying our sense of accomplishment.
But the thrill didn’t end there. With equal parts excitement and trepidation, we prepared ourselves for the exhilarating descent. Slowly and steadily, we abseiled down the cliff face, the wind whipping against our faces as we descended toward the earth below. The rush of adrenaline coursed through our veins, leaving us with a profound sense of triumph and a newfound appreciation for the wonders of nature. After the climbing expedition, we eagerly moved on to the next adventure—canoeing. With packed lunches in hand, lovingly prepared on-site, we replenished our energy reserves before setting off. Divided into three groups, we carried our canoes to the riverside, anticipation building as we prepared to embark on a waterborne journey.
Launching ourselves into the calm waters, we paddled with synchronised strokes, gliding through the river’s serene beauty. The surrounding landscapes mirrored our excitement, with vibrant flora and fauna adorning the riverbanks. Laughter filled the air as friendly rivalries emerged, and we engaged in spirited races against our fellow classmates. As we paddled with determination, the sense of camaraderie and adventure grew stronger. The race back to the starting point intensified the thrill, pushing us to paddle with all our might. Returning triumphant, we left the river behind and returned to a warming campfire, where we enjoyed hot chocolate and a thrilling game of “wink wink murder,” our laughter mingling with the crackle of the fire. The detective’s deductions and the excitement of uncovering the murderer brought a sense of intrigue and joy to our evening. After a delicious dinner prepared on-site, we retired to our accommodation, the day’s adventures etched into our memories.
The next morning, the sun had yet to rise when an unexpected visitor greeted us outside our window—a sheep, with its cheerful bleats serving as an early wake-up call at 5am. Although tired, we packed our bags and readied ourselves for the grand finale—the mud course. The mud course, an obstacle-filled adventure through waist-deep mud, was the pinnacle of our trip. With each obstacle conquered, our spirits soared higher. The highlight, undoubtedly, was the giant slide into a pool of mud, an experience that even Mr Fuldner couldn’t resist. Laughter filled the air as we surrendered to the mud’s playful embrace, relishing the carefree moments. Having conquered the mud course, we cleaned up with refreshing showers, reluctantly bidding farewell to the muck that had become a part of our adventure.
The Dorset trip had provided us with a playground of nature’s wonders, pushing our boundaries and reminding us of the boundless joy that comes with embracing adventure. We returned to the familiarity of our school with a sense of fulfilment, eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to embark on new escapades. Dorset had gifted us with moments that would last a lifetime – a weekend that nourished our spirits, forged lasting friendships, and ignited a love for the great outdoors.
By Devam K (1B)
Take a look at some of the highlights below and a gallery of the weekend here.
TERRIFIC TENNIS
On the Monday of the last week of term, I had my first tennis fixture for Hampton against Harodian. Each side has three teams (all games were doubles) and we each played all three of the teams from the opposing school. In the first matches, Hampton were down 2-1, partly due to a lack of warm up. However, in the second and third matches, my team won both 4-3. Overall, Hampton won the match 7-2, with many tight matches. It was a great experience, especially enhanced by the sportsmanship from both schools. By George S (1H)
HAMPTON PREMIER LEAGUE
The Hampton Premier league commenced on 7 June 2023 and will continue for three weeks. It is a cricket tournament consisting of B,C and D team players. The 7 June was the debut of the Hampton Titans, we were fielding and our opponents were batting. Each time we got a wicket the opponents team would regain the points they had lost. It was as if they were saying to us ‘Anything you can do I can do better.’ At the end of the first half we had received six wickets. One from one of my teammates, one from myself and four from my other teammate!! The second half will start on the 9 June. I would highly recommend coming to join us in the HPL tournament. By Danyal P (1J)
PROGRAMMING MINECRAFT
On Wednesday I started a new club running for 6 weeks called Java programming club. Now, unfortunately, because of the club’s nature by the time you’re reading this you will not be able to join but there are many clubs like this starting all the time so if you would like to join a programming club just check what clubs are on and when they start. In this club, our main goal is to make a very basic Java Minecraft plugin to teach us the very basics of the Java programming language and have fun whilst doing it. We started off by learning about the foundation of Java – when it was created and who created it (Sun Microsystems) – and then we learned how to create a java file – what to name it; where to put it; etc – and the very basics on how Java works – like for example that it is a Object Oriented language. Finally, we learned about how to print something to the terminal and how variables are useful and finally what a method is. By Gabriel K-S (1B)
GEOGRAPHY CLUB
Geography Club has been extremely fun, playing board games from around the world. This week we played a game like tic tac toe, with much more spaces. It was quite enjoyable, but quick resulting in a lot of games. However, we found a way to always win if you start, proving the game was biased. By Shishir V (1J)
ONCE UPON A PINE: THE ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO
The summer show, Once Upon a Pine: The Adventures of Pinocchio, is going to be performed by members of the Lower School year on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 June,
Tickets are FREE!
Book tickets here (there will also be some free tickets for pupils available on the door each night).
We hope to see many of you there enjoying what looks set to be a humorous and heart-warming show!
TUTEE OF THE WEEK
Every week, the First Year Tutor team nominate a boy who they have been particularly impressed with, and Mr Hill and Mrs Peattie provide him with a football to use on the fields for the week!
This week’s tutee of the week is James N (1H) as Mr Barber, Mr Jimenez, Mr Hill and Mrs Peattie have been impressed with the his excellent attitudes towards all aspects of school life – well done, James!
SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS
We love to hear about what you have been getting up to outside of school and to celebrate your successes in the First Year Blog! Please do send any information about any of your achievements through to Mr Fuldner (d.fuldner@hamptonschool.org.uk).
FIRST YEAR FIVE QUESTIONS
An impressive 17 First Year Hamptonians had a go at last week’s quiz, well done to everyone who had a go! Form 1J are 1B crowned joint weekly champions with five entries each. Merits go to:
1P: Oliver Y, Lucas T
1J: Henry S, Josh B, David W, Kevin K, Shishir V
1L: Macsen B, Alexandre A
1B: Joe B, Neal H, Devam K, Alex G, Sebastian W
1H: James G, Joshua L
1F: Daniel S
Take a look at this week’s questions – have a go yourself or challenge people at home and see if they know the answer.
- Kathmandu is the capital city of which country?
- In cricket, when was the first Ashes competition played?
- Name all four penguins in the film Madagascar.
- Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize?
- Which class of animals have the most species on the planet?
Merits are awarded for everyone who has a go! Just click on the link below and enter your answers; points for the Interform Competition will be awarded to the form with the most entries every week.
Why don’t you have a go and enter your answers here.
Take a look at next week’s blog to find out the answers and here are the answers to last week’s questions:
- How long is an Olympic Swimming Pool in meters? 50 meters
- Which monarch officially made Valentine’s Day a holiday in 1537? Henry VIII
- What is the name given to Indian food cooked over charcoal in a clay oven? Tandoori
- Which is the only edible food that never goes bad? Honey
- Which country invented ice cream? China
